Dog Supporters Spark Uproar At Bedford Township Board Meeting

Supporters of two condemned dogs created quite a stir at the Bedford Township Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday evening.

— Photo courtesy of JANNI JUHASZ - Siberian husky, Nala (right), and its mixed-breed offspring, Bugger are scheduled to be euthanized in con­nection with the attack on two show hogs.

Janni Juhasz, owner of two Toledo dogs accused and found guilty of killing two Bedford pigs, spoke during public commentary time of Tuesday night’s board meeting. But when a supporter of Ms. Juhasz and her dogs approached the podium to speak, Supervisor Greg Stewart brought the meeting to a dramatic halt.

Mr. Stewart gave notice to attendees at the start of the meeting that public comments would be limited only to current township business, per the board’s policy. Because the dogs’ case was not included on the meeting agenda, Mr. Stewart told those gathered that he would allow only Ms. Juhasz to speak on the matter.

After Ms. Juhasz addressed the board, one of her supports attempted to make a comment. Mr. Stewart verbally intercepted the unidentified man as he approached the microphone, and reiterated that there would be no more comments allowed in regard to the dogs’ case.

When the man continued to speak, Mr. Stewart ordered that the board members’ microphones and the camera be cut off to adjourn for a recess.

After attempting to converse with the man and talk him into leaving the podium, the decision was made to call the sheriff’s department.

Several officers responded and spoke with board members, while most of the group of supporters made their way out of the board room.

No arrests were made and the meeting resumed 23 minutes later.

Before Ms. Juhasz spoke, Township attorney Phil Goldsmith asserted that Bedford Township has no jurisdiction in the case, and cannot make any decisions in regard to the dogs’ fate.

“We could stand here for three hours and listen to comments from the public, which will do no good, because this board has no jurisdiction,” Mr. Goldsmith said. “Their job is done.”

Ms. Juhasz wanted to bring the board’s attention to alleged inconsistencies and errors made by the owner of the pigs and the Animal Control officer who handled the incident.

“It’s been ten months since our dogs were unjustly taken from us and held in captivity,” Ms. Juhasz said. “It has been speculated that because our dogs were in the wrong place at the wrong time, that they killed and injured pigs.”

In the northern part of the county, about a half-dozen of the dogs’ supporters attended the Monroe County Board of Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday night, but did not speak.

Just before public comments were heard, Thomas Graham, attorney for the board, commented on a stay of execution that was granted Tuesday in Monroe County Circuit Court tp the Juhasz family to ensure the dogs are kept alive. Mr. Graham read a statement to the audience saying the board had no jurisdiction on the legal matter being contested in the courts.

“This board has no involvement whatsoever and no supervision or control over this proceeding,” the attorney said. “The entire procedure is local and the members of this board are not involved… the dogs are maintained by Animal Control and will continue to be maintained until the appeals are heard.”

He added that under current law, the owner of the pigs that were allegedly killed by the dogs could seek damages for the loss of the livestock.

Shortly after Mr. Graham’s statement, the supporters left the meeting.